'Lives Matter' - Louth Councillors clash as no confidence motion passed in Road Safety Authority

Louth County Councillors have clashed as the chamber passed a motion of no confidence in the Road Safety Authority (RSA). 

The motion which was put forward by Sinn Féin Councillor for Dundalk/Carlingford Antóin Watters expressed no confidence in the RSA "in its current format". 

The motion split opinion between councillors and resulted in a roll-call vote. Despite concerns being raised by several councillors, the motion passed with 15 votes in favour, three abstaining, with none against. There were several councillors absent from the vote. 

Cllr Watters said plans to reform the RSA by splitting the body into two separate entities has not taken place, with the Government citing costing issues. 

He said there is "huge frustration" with the authority for failing to share relevant data regarding "accidents and near-misses" as well as "accident black-spots". 

However the motion received pushback from several councillors including Fine Gael Councillor for Drogheda Ejiro O'Hare-Stratton who abstained in the vote. She said she would not support the motion and councillors should "tread very carefully" before describing it as a "complex issue". 

Fianna Fáil councillor for Ardee John Sheridan said he "wouldn't be comfortable" expressing no confidence in an "entire state agency" and called on Cllr Watters to extend his motion.

"It's the equivalent if you’d no confidence in Louth County Council without stating the specific reason, is it driving tests and waiting lists? That's one thing, is it road deaths? Maybe extend it to specific things you said," he said. 

However, Cllr Sheridan voted in favour of the motion. 

Independent councillor for Drogheda Paddy McQuillan also abstained during the vote, saying the wording was "too broad". He also questioned if councillors did not like the new format if they would express no confidence in the authority again. 

Elsewhere, Mayor of Drogheda, Labour councillor Michelle Hall abstained during the vote, and said there needs to be greater enforcement on the roads by Gardaí. 

"People don’t think they’re going to be caught, then driver behaviour will deteriorate, which it has done,". she said. 

Fine Gael councillor for Drogheda Rural Anne-Marie Ford also said the issue is complex and said "society has changed" with an increase in the use of mobile phones, drugs and speed.

Cllr Ford said there's a lot of education that needs to happen "in the bigger picture".

Despite several concerns, there appeared to be widespread support for the motion across the chamber. 

Read Next: Louth TD tell Dáil flood defence in Dundalk 'not up to scratch'

Independent councillor for Dundalk Maeve Yore said the RSA are "not fit for purpose". She said comments by Minister of State Seán Canney "about how well it works don’t wash anymore”. 

"People’s lives matter, we have to act and get a fit for purpose organisation that supports road safety in our country," she said. 

Sinn Féin councillor for Ardee Pearse McGeough said he is surprised more people aren't killed on our roads. 

"As someone whose father was killed in a road traffic accident, I am surprised looking at driving behaviour on the road, that there are not more people killed on our roads."

"I support Antóin's motion as a first step, I'm pleading with members to support the motion," he said. 

Green Party councillor for Dundalk South Marianne Butler said "political leadership have to get real about road safety or we're never going to get close to Vision Zero", which aims to have zero road deaths or serious injuries by 2050. 

Cllr Watters reiterated that the motion related to the RSA "in its current format" and said he would explain his reasons to the authority when it appears in front of the chamber in the future.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.